Ultrasonic Diagnosis 3D ROI Determination via Voxel Contribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical image diagnosis apparatuses face difficulties in accurately designating a three-dimensional region of interest (ROI) from two-dimensional images, leading to confusion and increased operational load for users, as setting a 2D-ROI on a volume rendering image does not uniquely determine its position in the volume data.
Innovation Solution
An ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus that includes a system for determining a 3D-ROI based on a 2D-ROI set on a projected image, using methods such as calculating contribution degrees of voxels along a line-of-sight direction to specify the 3D-ROI position, allowing for efficient and accurate designation of target regions within volume data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a 2D-ROI is set on a VR image, then the user can easily designate a target region on the displayed image, but the position of the ROI in volume data cannot be uniquely determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that computes contribution degrees of voxels along the line-of-sight direction. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between the 2D-ROI on VR image and the corresponding 3D-ROI in volume data, enabling unique determination of 3D-ROI position while maintaining ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If a 3D-ROI is set by designating points on multiple arbitrary slices, then the 3D-ROI position can be accurately determined, but the operational load and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of 3D-ROI determination from the complex process of designating points on multiple slices. By using the contribution degree calculation method, the system isolates the critical computation to determine 3D-ROI position from the 2D-ROI on VR image, eliminating the need for multiple slice designations and reducing operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user rotates the VR image to change the line-of-sight direction, then different regions can be observed, but the user may lose sight of the target region and require frequent reference to previously viewed areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by calculating and displaying the contribution degree of voxels along the line-of-sight direction. This feedback mechanism allows users to understand which voxels contribute most to the current VR image display, enabling users to maintain focus on target regions even when rotating the image to observe different areas.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus includes an ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic transmission/reception unit, a volume data generating unit, a projected image generating unit, a two dimensional region-of-interest setting unit, a specifying unit, a calculation unit and a three-dimensional region-of-interest determination unit. The specifying unit specifies cells on rays which pass through the respective pixels in the 2D-ROI and are used to acquire a VR image. The calculation unit calculates the contribution degree of each cell based on the voxel value and opacity of each cell specified and calculates the average value of the contribution degrees of cells equal in distance from the screen of the VR image along the line-of-sight direction. The three-dimensional region-of-interest determination unit specifies the distances from the screen of the VR image which correspond to average contribution values exceeding the predetermined threshold and determines the position of the 3D-ROI in the volume data.